Welcoming ceremonyies become an activity which is held by most educational institutions to welcome juniors, whether they are high school students or university students, to get to know their seniors and learn to adjust themselves to the society in that institution. “Doi Suthep Trekking” is another tradition which has been carried on from generation to generation for ages. It is a great auspicious route for students from every faculty to follow every year.
When Khruba Siwichai built the road to Wat Phra Borommathat Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan (the respectable sanctum of Chiang Mai since the ancient times), this temple became well-known and became the place where numerous people come to pay respect to the stupa for the Year of the Goat. Before going upstairs to pay respect to the stupa, stop by to pay respect to Khruba Sriwichai Monument, the Saint of Lanna, which is situated at the foot of Doi Suthep for your propitiousness. Travelling up to the temple can be done in 2 ways. You can either walk to the right just before the entrance to go on the cable car ride for the price of 20 baht per person or test your body strength with 306 staircases. You can walk up the 7-headed Naga Staircase leading to the entrance arches. On the way, you will experience real trekking to the top of the mountain with lovely hill tribe children dressed in local costume standing on the stairs and calling tourists to take photos with them for keepsakes. After taking pictures with the kids, please don’t forget to give them a small amount of money to support their education. When arriving at the top, you will see many visitors taking a break by sitting and drinking water in the pavilion. Around the field, there will be plenty of shoes taken off before getting to pay respect to the stupa. Once walking through the entrance arches connected to the cloister around the stupa, you will see the octagonal Chiang Saen-style pagoda covered with bronze plates (Thong Changko) standing in grace in front of you. To pay respect to Phra Borommathat Doi Suthep, you must do it by walking clockwise for 3 rounds with popped rice, flowers, incense sticks and candle. It is believed that women are not permitted to approach the stupa and if you have a chance to come to pay respect, your wishes will come true. You should walk around to worship in 4 directions which have different results of merit.
The inside of the cloister is the site of the vihara of 4 directions. The vihara behind the stupa is Phra Chao Than Chai enshrining place where you can come in to pray for blessings. And, importantly, you should not miss the view point located on the right of the entrance where you can almost see the whole city view. Especially at night, you will see more than ten thousand lights among the darkness which is a beautiful memorable picture. It is another point where tourists should not miss to take photos with a view of Chiang Mai city to capture the moment. Whether in the morning, late morning, afternoon or evening, this place always makes tourists feel delighted.
To travel by car, travel from the city center for about 20 kilometers taking Huai Kaeo Road, Highway No.1004 (Huay Kaeo Road in front of Chiang Mai University) and the twisting route up the mountain. On the way you will see the city of Chiang Mai below. The distance from the bottom of the mountain to the stupa is approximately 14 kilometers.

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